Indian music licensing platform Hoopr has appointed Deborah Smith as its Head of International Licensing & Sync, marking a key step in the company’s global expansion strategy.
Based in the UK, Smith will oversee Hoopr’s international operations, focusing on building strategic alliances with global labels, expanding cross-border sync opportunities, and strengthening the bridge between India’s music ecosystem and international markets. The appointment aligns with Hoopr’s broader vision to position India as a key player in the global sync and licensing space.
In her new role, Smith will take charge of extending Hoopr’s catalogue—which currently spans over 22,000 Bollywood, independent, and regional tracks—to brands, agencies, and production houses worldwide. The company’s self-serve platform, Hoopr Smash, has already made premium Indian music accessible for advertising and content creators, in partnership with major labels such as Yash Raj Films Music, Merchant Records, and Turnkey Music.
The platform’s collaboration with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) ensures that artists and rights holders are fairly compensated, a commitment that underlines Hoopr’s goal of creating an ethical, transparent, and globally scalable music licensing ecosystem.
Speaking about her appointment, Deborah Smith said,
“Hoopr sits at the powerful intersection of creativity, technology, and opportunity. Having worked in the Indian market for over eight years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of its vibrant music landscape and a genuine affinity for its rich cultural nuances. Hoopr’s vision—to empower creators and brands with music that is both authentically local and globally appealing—truly resonates with me. I’m confident in Hoopr’s potential to redefine how the world discovers and licenses Indian music. My focus will be on expanding our global footprint, forging strong partnerships across markets, and bringing the sound of India to audiences far beyond our borders.”
Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-Founder and CEO of Hoopr, added,
“Deborah’s arrival marks a defining moment in Hoopr’s journey toward global leadership in music licensing. As global demand for international music continues to rise, the complexities of cross-border licensing have intensified. With her deep expertise in international publishing and sync, we’re ready to accelerate our global expansion, strengthen partnerships with leading labels, and unlock new revenue pathways for our artists. This is a pivotal step in taking Hoopr—and Indian music—to the world with greater scale, speed, and ambition.”
With over 13 years of experience in music publishing and sync, Smith brings a strong international profile. As Director of Publishing at Horus Music and Co-Founder of Anara Publishing, she has established global partnerships, represented over 40 songwriters and composers, and secured syncs for clients with brands and platforms such as Apple, Netflix, Hulu, UEFA, and Asian Paints.
Smith has also been a long-standing advocate for India’s independent music scene, having worked closely with artists including Kavya Trehan, Tejas Menon, Dualist Inquiry, Zoya, and Swarathma, helping take Indian music to global audiences.
Her appointment reflects Hoopr’s growing international ambitions and signals a new phase of professionalisation and global connectivity for India’s music licensing sector.
